Jared Leto [1] was caught off guard at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Wednesday when a heckler surprised him and challenged him for his critically acclaimed role in Dallas Buyers Club. "You will never be Rayon," the audience member said, referring to Jared's transgender character in the film. When Jared asked the heckler to elaborate on the comment, she said: "Trans misogyny does not deserve an award . . . you don't deserve an award for portraying a trans woman, because you're a man."

One might react to this attack with anger and frustration, but Jared's response was calm, intelligent, and articulate. "Because I'm a man, I don't deserve to play that part? So you would hold a role against someone who happened to be gay or lesbian? They can't play a straight part?" Jared continued, highlighting the opposite side of the issue. "Then you make sure that people that are gay, people that aren't straight, people like the Rayons of the world would never have the opportunity to turn the tables and explore parts that aren't central to who they are." Check out the moment in its entirety above.